Musicology of Religion: Selected Papers on Religion and Music

Dear Colleagues,

The conspicuous neglect of music in the field of religious studies, as well as the general avoidance of religion in musicology and the social sciences, stands in contradiction to the rapidly rising interest in the combined topic of “religion and music”. For generations, religious studies scholars have proclaimed religion a ‘universal phenomenon’, and musicologists have regarded music as ‘universal’. Yet the fact that religion and music have been frequently linked throughout history and topography has not, despite the importance of music in the early stages of religious studies, garnered enough attention to consider their combined presence as a separate area of study and research. Since this topic is gaining a critical mass of information and beginning to receive proper attention in the academy and in the public sphere, there is a growing need for more research.

In partial response to this need, we are pleased to invite papers as part of a new field, Musicology of Religion, with themes that are explored within one tradition or in a comparative framework. This Special Issue welcomes research on any aspect of the confluence of music and the sacred, or on any aspect of theory or method in the study of religion and music.

This Special Issue enlarges upon the Guest Editor’s forthcoming book, Musicology of Religion: Theories, Methods, and Directions (May 2023), in which the topic of religion and music is surveyed and developed methodologically in terms of a distinct subject area. The rationale for this subject area is driven by historical precedent. While there are well-developed fields of anthropology of religion, psychology of religion, and philosophy of religion, the widely recognized connections between religion and sound, chant, and music warrant a comparable academic home. Drawing upon theories and methods in the study of both religion and music, addressing challenges posed by critics, and referencing examples from world religious traditions, the proposed field for religion and music, Musicology of Religion, has answered the call to address the rapidly growing interest in both the academic and public spheres. Grounded in the scope and methods of phenomenology and comparative analysis, Musicology of Religion is a new form of interdisciplinary study that is enriched by other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.

In pursuit of this direction, this Special Issue features contributions on the presence of music or musical thought in religion. Papers are invited that attempt to explore themes involving religion and music within one culture or across more than one culture or tradition. Seeking to articulate the depths of one tradition, or to find common ground or identify differences between traditions, the methods of approach may include phenomenology, history of religions, philosophy of music, aesthetics, theology of music, ritual studies, liturgical studies, social sciences, ethnomusicology, and cognitive studies. Any form or manifestation of the confluence of religion and music worldwide is welcome, including spirituality and music, sacred songs and chants, musical instruments, and liturgical action---all contributing to specific ‘sacred soundscapes’. These topics may relate to specific groups or communities within the major world religions, or to historical time periods in the musical development of areas like Europe and Asia. The emphasis should be on the overall dimension of music in religious experience rather than on technical aspects of musicology. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews of research are especially welcome.

Among the possible topics are concepts of music as sacred, religion as musical, musical experience as religious, music as Divine Gift, musical angels, music in heaven or the otherworld, music in the afterlife, music as basis of ethical and political life, musical instruments as sacred objects, music in ritual or liturgical action, music as meditation, melody and rhythm as manifestations of the sacred or as windows into the divine.  

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Guy Beck
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• religion
• music
• musicology
• ethnomusicology
• sacred sound
• chant, ritual
• liturgy
• phenomenology
• theology